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In 2020, WWE fans know more information about the real people behind WWE’s larger-than-life characters than ever before.
The likes of The Rock and Steve Austin have been known to tell in-depth stories about their WWE in-ring careers, while The Undertaker has given more out-of-character interviews in 2020 than he did in the other 29 years of his career combined.
Of course, it is only natural that these WWE legends often reflect on the greatest moments of their careers, but many of them have also admitted to making huge errors of judgement during their time in the wrestling business.
In this article, let’s count down five legendary WWE Superstars who revealed some of the biggest mistakes that they made in wrestling.
#5 Steve Austin wishes he worked with Hulk Hogan in WWE
Steve Austin failed to show up to an episode of WWE RAW in June 2002 after he was booked to lose a King of the Ring qualifier against the up-and-coming Brock Lesnar.
That incident, which led to Austin having a seven-month break from WWE, happened just four months after Hulk Hogan returned to WWE alongside fellow nWo members Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.
It was widely speculated around that time that WWE could build towards a feud between Hogan and Austin. However, Vince McMahon chose to book Hogan vs. The Rock and Austin vs. Hall at WrestleMania 18, and the dream Hogan vs. Austin match never happened in WWE.
Speaking on his Steve Austin Show podcast in 2019, Austin told Hogan that he wishes they worked together in 2002.
“I think if we’d ever gotten into a room and had just a chilled conversation, we probably could’ve done business together. That probably would’ve been, I guess it is, one of the biggest regrets of my career, other than not jobbing for Brock. I never would’ve done the job [lost that night to Brock Lesnar], but I wish I showed up. But I would’ve loved to have worked a program with you.”
Austin has clarified many times that he would have happily lost against Lesnar if the match had a storyline build-up, but he was unwilling to lose to The Next Big Thing in a relatively meaningless King of the Ring qualifier.
#4 WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan regretted using his finisher
While the majority of WWE finishers cause more damage to opponents than the Superstar who delivers the move, that was certainly not the case for Hulk Hogan.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times in October 2019, the WWE Hall of Famer revealed that he wishes he did not use the leg drop as a finishing move throughout his 35-year career in the wrestling business
“Everyone says they wouldn’t change anything about their life. If I could change anything, it would be my finisher. I would never use the leg drop. I’d use the sleeper. All the back surgeries I’ve had are because of that damn leg drop. I had scoliosis, brother.”
Hogan confirmed to TMZ after his 10th back surgery in May 2020 that he has had 17 surgeries over the last decade, including on his knees and hips.
Despite the surgeries, The Hulkster still appears to have his heart set on competing in one last match in WWE.
The 67-year-old also said in his interview with the LA Times that he was planning to get in the best shape of his life ahead of a possible retirement match in WWE, with Vince McMahon being his preferred opponent.
#3 John Cena admitted his criticism of WWE legend The Rock was wrong
John Cena famously questioned Dwayne The Rock Johnson’s love for WWE during an interview with The Sun in 2008.
The 16-time World Champion acknowledged that The Rock had been successful as an actor, but he also claimed that the former WWE Superstar “doesn’t give anything back” to WWE.
“He's very good and very successful. Associating with sports entertainment doesn't do much for his acting career. I get it. Just don't f*** me around and tell me that you love this. That's the only thing that gets me really p***ed off. Our fan base have so much admiration for him, he's got to respect that. He doesn't give anything back." [H/T Bleacher Report]
Those comments played a part in The Rock’s decision to return to WWE and face Cena in the main event of WrestleMania 28 and WrestleMania 29.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated in 2017, Cena said he liked the fact that he talked enough trash about The Rock that it brought him back to WWE, but he now understands that he was wrong to say what he said in 2008.
“I’ve apologized to him in person, I’ve apologized to him publicly. I was completely wrong in the approach that I took. It was one-sided and selfish, and I’m glad the way it worked out, but I apologize for not being able to see his side of the fence.”
Ironically, just like The Rock in 2008, Cena now focuses on his acting career and he only makes a handful of WWE appearances per year.
#2 The Undertaker’s WWE WrestleMania 33 regret
One of the most disappointing matches of The Undertaker’s WWE career came at WrestleMania 33 when he lost against Roman Reigns in the main event.
The man behind the character, Mark Calaway, admitted in his Last Ride docuseries on the WWE Network that he should not have faced Reigns because he knew several months in advance that his body was not going to be 100 percent for the match.
However, as he had already agreed to participate at that year’s WWE WrestleMania, the veteran WWE Superstar felt that he could not go back on his word.
“In my mind, I had a responsibility. If my name is on the page, then you gotta go. I knew in January that I was physically not going to be at my best but it was too late at that point. Like, I have already committed, it’s already been planned and this is what is going to happen. And I was scrambling, trying to figure out how I am going to make this work. And, I was thoroughly disappointed.”
Calaway said he did not want to make any excuses for his match against Reigns, but he admitted that being “banged up and beat up” contributed towards the way he performed that night.
#1 Ric Flair regretted wrestling after his WWE retirement
When a sports star calls time on their career, it is very rare that they will come out of retirement and continue to perform at the highest level again. But when a WWE Superstar calls time on their career, the WWE Universe is usually left wondering if that person will ever reverse their retirement decision and return to the ring.
One of the most famous examples of a retirement U-turn came after Ric Flair lost to Shawn Michaels in a career-threatening match at WWE WrestleMania 24 in March 2008.
Fast forward to November 2009, and Flair decided to lace up his boots again to face Hulk Hogan in four matches in Australia. The WWE legend then competed in another 11 matches for IMPACT Wrestling between March 2010 and September 2011.
Speaking to the Metro in April 2020, Flair reflected on his WWE retirement match and admitted that he should never have wrestled again after that.
“The best answer I have is that [match against Shawn Michaels] was the greatest moment of my life, the saddest moment in my wrestling career, and I wish I’d never wrestled again after that. I just couldn’t stay away. At the end of the day, people remember that like it was my last match, and that’s the important thing.”
Flair is a two-time WWE Hall of Famer – 2008 (individual) and 2012 (Four Horsemen) – and he is widely considered to be one of the greatest Superstars of all time.
